Victims of domestic abuse across Co. Clare are being urged to learn about the supports available to them.
Clare Local Area Network (CLAN) is holding an event later this month to outline the resources that women who are experiencing domestic abuse can avail of.
Aontú Rep June Dillon, Chair of the Safer Clare Campaign, and member of the Clare Local Community Safety Partnership (CLCSP) says.
“This is the first time that CLAN has done an outreach like this and it’s a wonderful opportunity for women to learn about the very many supports that are available to help them.
There is a huge range and essentially it is vital that they know about them.
Our event will outline these supports in a warm, welcoming, and inviting atmosphere and women can enjoy some wellness tips and relax.
When women are subject to the crime of domestic violence it has a terrible effect on them, mentally and physically and they are gripped by fear.
Knowing who to turn to is one of the first tools they have to protect themselves.
Domestic violence is a terrible scourge on families.
Reports on the issue are deeply troubling. It’s clear that the problem of domestic violence is getting worse. More are more women are seeking help from Women’s Aid. In some cases, the abuse these women experienced resulted in miscarriages, hypervigilance and homelessness. A third of the women were subjected to abuse by their ex-partner. Some we threatened with weapons, subjected to surveillance and threatened with the lives of their children. This is most appalling – the full book of the law needs to be thrown at the perpetrators of this most evil type of abuse”.
Changes to the sentencing guidelines for domestic violence cases are of course hugely welcome, but I think we need legislative change here to ensure a mandatory minimum sentence for serious cases, to ensure that the changes to the sentencing guidelines are enshrined in legislation. If a partner abuses a woman to the point that she miscarries, or threatens her with her children’s lives, or seeks to prevent her disclosing the abuse, that individual deserves more than the current 3-year maximum prison sentence, in my opinion”,
Aontú wants to see Gardaí trained properly in how to deal with this. A survey by Women’s Aid detailed that 44% of women found the Gardaí unhelpful. This is not acceptable. In some cases, women feel trapped, unable to disclose abuse to officials, it takes courage to escape their abuse and seek help – the Gardaí need to be fully and properly trained in how to deal with anyone who has mustered up that courage to speak with them. There should be specific protocols in place for women who make disclosures. And the elephant in the room is, there are too few Gardaí”.
